Quick Answer
App localization costs $500-5,000 for small apps and $5,000-50,000+ for larger projects depending on string count, language count, and translation method. The main cost components are: TMS platform ($0-400/month), translation ($0.001-0.15 per word), and implementation (5-40 developer hours). AI translation has reduced costs by 80-95% compared to human-only translation in 2026.
Cost Breakdown by Component
1. Translation Management System (TMS)
| TMS Platform | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| IntlPull Free | $0 | 1,000 keys, 100 AI translations |
| IntlPull Starter | $12 | 5,000 keys, 1,000 AI translations |
| IntlPull Growth | $79 | 15,000 keys, 5,000 AI translations |
| IntlPull Business | $199 | 50,000 keys, unlimited AI |
| Lokalise | $90-350+ | Varies by usage |
| Crowdin | $50-400+ | Per-user pricing |
| Phrase | $125-525+ | Enterprise features |
IntlPull advantage: All plans include 30 team members. No per-seat fees that inflate costs as your team grows.
2. Translation Costs
| Method | Cost per Word | Quality | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Translation (GPT-4/Claude) | $0.001-0.005 | Good-Excellent | Instant |
| Machine Translation (Google/DeepL) | $0.00002-0.00005 | Good | Instant |
| Human Translation (Freelance) | $0.05-0.10 | Excellent | Days |
| Human Translation (Agency) | $0.10-0.20 | Excellent | Days-Weeks |
| AI + Human Review | $0.02-0.05 | Excellent | Hours |
2026 reality: Most teams now use AI translation for 80-90% of content, with human review for marketing and legal text only. This approach reduces translation costs by 80-95%.
3. Implementation Costs
| Task | Developer Hours | One-Time Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Initial i18n setup | 8-16 hours | $800-2,400 |
| String extraction | 4-8 hours | $400-1,200 |
| TMS integration | 4-8 hours | $400-1,200 |
| RTL support (if needed) | 8-16 hours | $800-2,400 |
| Testing | 4-8 hours | $400-1,200 |
*Assuming $100-150/hour developer rate
Total Cost by Project Size
Small App (2,000 strings, 3 languages)
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| TMS (annual) | $0-144 |
| AI Translation | $30-90 |
| Human Review (20%) | $600-1,800 |
| Implementation | $1,600-3,200 |
| Year 1 Total | $2,230-5,234 |
| Ongoing Annual | $144-1,000 |
Medium App (10,000 strings, 5 languages)
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| TMS (annual) | $948-2,388 |
| AI Translation | $250-750 |
| Human Review (20%) | $5,000-15,000 |
| Implementation | $2,400-4,800 |
| Year 1 Total | $8,598-22,938 |
| Ongoing Annual | $1,500-5,000 |
Large App (50,000 strings, 10 languages)
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| TMS (annual) | $2,388-6,300 |
| AI Translation | $2,500-7,500 |
| Human Review (30%) | $75,000-225,000 |
| Implementation | $4,000-8,000 |
| Year 1 Total | $83,888-246,800 |
| Ongoing Annual | $10,000-50,000 |
How to Reduce Localization Costs
1. Use AI Translation Strategically
Before (2022): Pay human translators $0.10/word for everything = $50,000 for 500,000 words
Now (2026): Use AI for 80% + human review for 20% = $7,500 for same content (85% savings)
IntlPull's AI translation integrates GPT-4, Claude, and DeepL to select the best provider per language pair automatically.
2. Start with Fewer Languages
| Approach | Cost | Revenue Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Launch in 10 languages | High | Often wasted |
| Launch in 2-3 languages | Low | 80% of impact |
| Add languages based on data | Optimal | Maximum ROI |
Recommendation: Start with English + your top 2 markets. Add languages when data shows demand.
3. Choose the Right TMS Pricing Model
| If you have... | Avoid... | Choose... |
|---|---|---|
| Growing team | Per-seat pricing | Flat team pricing |
| Many strings | Per-word charges | String-based pricing |
| Frequent updates | Per-character MT | Included AI translation |
IntlPull's pricing includes unlimited team members and AI translations on higher tiers.
4. Implement OTA Updates (Mobile)
Without OTA: Every translation change = new app release = developer time + app store wait
With OTA: Push translations directly to users = no developer involvement
Annual savings from OTA: 20-40 developer hours × $100-150/hour = $2,000-6,000
IntlPull is the only major TMS offering OTA updates for iOS, Android, and React Native.
Cost Comparison: DIY vs TMS
DIY Approach (JSON files + manual workflow)
| Annual Cost | Details |
|---|---|
| Tool cost | $0 |
| Developer time (10 hrs/mo) | $12,000-18,000 |
| Translation management | 5 hrs/mo = $6,000-9,000 |
| Missed strings/bugs | Incalculable frustration |
| Total | $18,000-27,000 |
TMS Approach (IntlPull)
| Annual Cost | Details |
|---|---|
| IntlPull Growth | $948 |
| Developer time (2 hrs/mo) | $2,400-3,600 |
| Translation management | Minimal |
| Automated sync | No manual work |
| Total | $3,348-4,548 |
Savings with TMS: $14,000-22,000/year
ROI of Localization
Localization isn't just a cost—it drives revenue.
| Metric | Impact |
|---|---|
| App downloads | +128% in localized markets |
| Conversion rate | +40% with native language |
| Revenue increase | +25-40% per major language |
| User retention | +30% in local markets |
Example ROI calculation:
- Localization cost: $5,000
- Monthly revenue: $10,000
- Revenue increase after localization: +25% = $2,500/month
- Payback period: 2 months
- Year 1 ROI: 500%+
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to localize an app?
Small apps cost $2,000-5,000 for initial localization (2,000 strings, 3 languages). Medium apps cost $8,500-23,000. Large apps can exceed $100,000. Ongoing annual costs are 10-20% of initial investment. AI translation has reduced costs by 80-95% compared to human-only approaches.
Is AI translation good enough for app localization?
Yes, for most UI content. In 2026, AI translation (GPT-4, Claude) produces human-quality translations for buttons, labels, and standard UI text. Human review is still recommended for marketing copy, legal text, and culturally sensitive content. Most teams use AI for 80% of content with human review for 20%.
How much do professional translators charge?
Professional translators charge $0.05-0.20 per word. Freelancers typically charge $0.05-0.10/word; agencies charge $0.10-0.20/word. A 10,000-word app in 5 languages costs $2,500-10,000 with human translation only. AI + human review reduces this to $500-2,000.
What's the cheapest way to localize my app?
Use IntlPull's free tier with AI translation for the cheapest approach. You get 1,000 keys and 100 AI translations/month at $0. For larger projects, IntlPull's Starter tier ($12/month) or Growth tier ($79/month) with AI translation costs less than any human translation approach while maintaining quality.
Should I use a TMS or manage translations manually?
Use a TMS for any project with 500+ strings or 2+ languages. Manual management (spreadsheets, JSON files) costs $15,000-25,000/year in developer time for medium projects. A TMS like IntlPull costs $144-2,388/year and saves 80% of that time. The break-even is around 100 strings.
How long does app localization take?
Initial localization takes 2-4 weeks for a typical app. This includes implementation (1-2 weeks), AI translation (instant), human review if needed (3-7 days), and testing (3-5 days). Ongoing translation updates take hours with a TMS, compared to days with manual workflows.
Summary
App localization costs vary significantly based on approach:
| Approach | Small App | Medium App |
|---|---|---|
| Human-only (legacy) | $5,000-15,000 | $30,000-100,000 |
| AI + Human review | $2,000-5,000 | $8,500-25,000 |
| AI-only (MVP) | $500-1,500 | $2,000-5,000 |
Key cost-saving strategies:
- Use AI translation for 80%+ of content
- Start with 2-3 languages, not 10
- Choose flat-pricing TMS (IntlPull)
- Implement OTA updates for mobile
Ready to localize cost-effectively? Start free with IntlPull — 1,000 keys and AI translation included.
